As the arrival of Pope Francis draws nearer, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recently announced the closure of the following roads from January 15 – January 19. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino also stated that there will alternative routes and that the affected roads will already be closed three hours prior to Pope Francis' arrival. All parked vehicles along the routes will be towed and affected roads will only open to traffic again once the pontiff arrives at his destination.

Number coding has been lifted on January 15, 16 and 19 due to the President's declaration of those days as Special Non-Working Holidays.

Beginning on January 15, 2015, the following roads will be closed at 3:00PM onwards for the Pope's itinerary from Villamor Airbase to the Apostolic Nunciature

-Villamor Airbase Gate 5

-Andrews Avenue to Airport Road

-Domestic Road

-NAIA Road

-Roxas Boulevard

-Right Turn to Qurino Avenue

-Taft Avenue to Apostolic Nunciature

Alternate route starting at 5:00PM onwards

-Sales Bridge to SLEX

-SLEX to Magallanes

-Osmena Highway

-Quirino Avenue

On January 16, 2015, the following roads will be closed at 6:00AM onwards as Pope Francis embarks for the Malacanang Palace.

-Taft Avenue

-Quirino Avenue to Nagtahan

-J.P. Laurel St. to Malacanang

Alternate route starting 8:00AM onwards

-Taft Avenue

-Left to Quirino Avenue

-Right Turn to Roxas Boulevard

-P. Burgos Avenue to Finance Road to Ayala Boulevard to P. Casal St.

-Gen. Solano St. to Malacanang

Also on January 16, 2015, the following roads will be closed starting 8:00AM onwards when Pope Francis transits from the Malacanang Palace to the Manila Cathedral.

-Gen. Solano St.

-P. Casal St. to Ayala Bridge, to Ayala Boulvard to Finance Road

-P. Burgos Avenue

-Bonifacio Drive to Anda Circle

-Andres Soriano Jr. Ave. to Manila Cathedral

Alternate Route starting 9:30AM onwards

-J.P. Laurel St.

-Nagtahan Bridge

-Guazon Avenue to UN Avenue

-Maria Orosa Avenue to Finance Road to Gen. Luna St. to Manila Cathedral

Starting at 10:00AM onwards, Pope Francis will then depart from Manila Cathedral and head back to the Apostolic Nunciature.

-Gen. Solano St.

-Soriano Avenue

-Anda Circle

-Bonifacio Drive

-Roxas Blvd.

-Quirino Avenue

-Taft Avenue

-Apostolic Nunciature

Alternate Route starting 12:00PM onwards

-Gen. Luna St.

-P. Burgos Avenue

-Finance Road

-Taft Avenue

-Apostolic Nunciature

Beginning at 2:00PM, the following roads will be affected when Pope Francis makes his way towards the SM MOA Arena from the Apostolic Nunciature

-Taft Ave. toward Quirino Ave.

-Quirino Ave.

-Roxas Blvd.

-EDSA Extension

-EDSA

-J.W. Diokno Blvd.

Alternate Route starting 4:00PM onwards

-Taft Ave. towards Quirino Ave.

-P. Ocampo St. to Bukaneg St.

-J.W. Diokno to SM MOA Arena

On January 17, 2015, the following roads will be closed to traffic starting 4:30AM onwards when Pope Francis makes his way to Villamor Airbase to head to Tacloban, Leyte

-Taft Avenue

-Quirino Avenue

-Osmena Highway

-SLEX Magallanes

-SLEX to Sales Bridge

-Villamor Air Base Gate 5

Alternate Route starting 6:00AM onwards

-Taft Ave. to Villamor Airbase

-Quirino Avenue

-Roxas Blvd.

-NAIA Road

-Domestic Road

-Andrews Avenue

-Villamor Air Base Gate 5

On his return to Manila, the following roads will be closed starting 3:00PM onwards

-Sales Bridge onto Skyway Ramp

-Osmena Highway

-Quirino Avenue

-Taft Ave. to Apostolic Nunciature

Alternate Route starting 5:00PM onwards

-Villamor Air Base Gate 5

-Airport Rd to Andrews Ave

-Domestic Road

-NAIA Road

-Roxas Boulevard

-Quirino Avenue

-Taft Ave. to Apostolic Nunciature

For January 18, 2015, Pope Francis will then make his way to UST. The following roads will be closed starting 6:30AM onwards

-Taft Avenue

-Quirino Ave to Nagtahan to Lacson Ave.

-Espana Blvd. to Espana Gate

Alternate Route starting 8:30AM onwards

-Taft Avenue

-Quezon Bridge to Quezon Boulevard

-Lerma St. to Espana Blvd. to UST

Starting 10:30AM onwards, the following roads will be closed to traffic as the pontiff departs for Luneta

-Taft Ave. to Quirino Ave.

-Roxas Blvd.

-Kalaw Ave.

-Maria Orosa Ave.

-P. Burgos Ave.

-South Drive to Ocean Park Entrance going to the back of Quirino Grandstand

Alternate Route starting 1:30PM onwards

-Taft Avenue

-UN Ave. to Maria Orosa Ave.

-P. Burgos Avenue

-Roxas Blvd.

-South Drive to Ocean Park entrance going to the back of Quirino Grandstand

On his departure day back to Vatican City, the following roads will be closed on January 19, 2015 starting 6:00AM onwards